Earth Day 2009
On April 22nd 1970 some 20m Americans joined Senator Gaylord Nelson’s call to celebrate the first Earth Day, an event described in the New York Times as an “interlude of national contemplation of problems and man’s deteriorating environment”. Since then the holiday has expanded in both size and scope. The Earth Day Network estimates that more than 1 billion people in 174 countries participate in Earth Day activities, making it the “largest secular civic event in the world”.
The need for national contemplation of our environmental problems has never been more dire, given the escalating threat of climate change.”We are steadily nearing the temperature at which “potentially large numbers of extinctions” and “major increases in hunger and water shortage risks” will take place, according to a 2006 report from the UK Meteorological Office.
Yet in this critical year, with the Kyoto Protocol up for renegotiation and serious carbon regulations finally on the table in America, the most significant public event planned by the Environmental Protection Agency was a rock concert featuring the Flaming Lips over the weekend.
“when you’re at a Flaming Lips show you almost can forget about all the struggles and the negativity and the hate that does exist in the world.” But given recent polls that show only one in three Americans believe climate change is human induced, distracting people from the bad news seems unnecessary.Intelligent Life
Take a moment to explore the Earth Day TV Channel which has online documentaries about Global Warming, Alternative Energy, Greener Liver, Earth Day – in particular The Green Lifestyle Film Festival, featuring:
- Earthlings by Shaun Monson -a documentary about mankind’s dependence on animals for pets, food, clothing, entertainment, and use in experimentation.
- Be The Change by David Chernushenko’s new film which explores the motivations for, and the challenges and rewards of, trying to live more lightly. It is a celebration of the human spirit.
- Home Grown Revolution where the Dervaes family has been transforming their home into an urban homestead.
- The Learning Garden where Education is part of the goal at the Learning Garden at Venice High School.
- What is the Truth About Organics which explores the myths and misunderstandings surrounding organic foods.
Earth Day 2009, April 22, will mark the beginning of The Green Generation CampaignTM which will also be the focus of the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day in 2010. With negotiations for a new global climate agreement coming up in December, Earth Day 2009 must be a day of action and civic participation, to defend The Green GenerationTM’s core principles
- A carbon-free future based on renewable energy that will end our common dependency on fossil fuels, including coal.
- An individual’s commitment to responsible, sustainable consumption.
- Creation of a new green economy that lifts people out of poverty by creating millions of quality green jobs and transforms the global education system into a green one.
